Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the martial arts and have attained certified expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors. Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery and now enjoy sharing their skills by passing them to their students. Here are a few of Raleigh Institute of Martial Arts' instructors and other staff members:
John Taube (President and Founder)
Master John Taube is a 6th Degree Black Belt teacher of martial arts who has conducted seminars and taught thousands of students in the arts of Jujitsu, Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Hapkido.
John, along with co-owner Master Chris Tricoli, created RIMA as the premier Martial Art Institution in North Carolina.
John maintains a high level of positive recognition by leaders within the martial art community and is recognized by many international martial arts certifying organizations. John has trained and is in good standing with elite martial art leaders such as Professor Ernie Cates, J.R. West, Carlos Machado, Royce Gracie, Lou Giamo, and Scott Francis. He was also a direct student of Grandmaster Ian Cyrus.
Call RIMA now and talk with us on how we can help set you on the "Right-Path".
Chris Tricoli (VP of Operations/Managing Director / Masters Rank)
Master Tricoli is not only an amazing Martial Art Teacher but also a former (SRT) S.W.A.T. force member, and Corporate Body Guard. Master Tricoli has studied martial arts for more than 23 years and holds advanced rank and instructor rating in MooDooRuKi Ninjitsu, Taekwondo, Wing Chun Kung-Fu, Kempo, Hapkido, Machado Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing and Weaponry. He has also worked as a civilian in the US Armed Forces, as an Instructor for hand-to-hand combat and combat statistics. As a Corporate Body-Guard for Executive Protection Agencies across the country, Master Tricoli protected scores of high profile executives including many well known Hollywood celebrities. Master Tricoli is a co-owner and the Managing Director of RIMA. He is the co-Founder of "Small Circle" Hapkido and "Built-For-Combat" Knife Fighting Systems which has him traveling nationwide teaching Knife Fighting Seminars.
Faith McCoy (Fitness Kickboxing Instructor)
Faith has been training at RIMA for over 3 years now--Her studies include Muay Thai Boxing, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. She currently teaches one of the toughest Fitness Kickboxing classes at RIMA every Thursday! If you like fun music and hard work Faith is the instructor for you!
FITNESS KICKBOXING - THURSDAYS 6:30-7:30
"You'll thank me in the summer!"
Todd Fleetwood (Kru Muay Thai Kickboxing)
Todd is the Associate Program Director for Muay Thai at RIMA. He has 10 years Kickboxing experience and is currently 2-0 as a middleweight Muay Thaiboxing Champion. He trained under the guidance of Scott Francis for 2 years. Todd, a graduate in Exercise and Sports Science from ECU, is a Certified Personal Trainer licensed in the State of North Carolina.
"Advanced Muay Thai - Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30p-7:30p Creative Conditioning - Mon & Fri 6am, Tues & Thurs 5:30p"
Cedric Buck (Senior Kickboxing Teacher)
Cedric Buck is our Most Senior instructor. He teaches classes on Monday evenings and wakes up early every Saturday morning to form new ideas to get you in shape. He adds great health tips along with great kickboxing techniques. Don't be fooled by his nice smile. Behind that smile is a MEAN KICKBOXING WARRIOR who wants nothing more than to take over the World as King of Kickboxing!
"Fitness Kickboxing - Mondays 6:30-7:30 and Saturday mornings 10:00am to 11:00am."
Sheryl Roberts (Fitness Kickboxing/ Muay Thai Instructor)
Sheryl started kickboxing in 1999 at RIMA. She has trained with Master Taube, Scott Francis, John Reece, and Todd Fleetwood. She received her blue belt in Muay Thai before trading in her gloves for diapers when her son was born. Sheryl returned to Fitness Kickboxing in the fall of 2006 and has never been in better shape.
I started fitness kickboxing at RIMA in February of 1999—I was bored with the cookie cutter aerobics routines and programs at the gyms, and needed something new and better, something “more.” Within a month my clothes fit better, and within a few more months I was in the best shape of my life. Also, I had suffered from lower back problems because of previous car accidents, and my back rarely hurt after I started fitness kickboxing. I then moved onto Muay Thai kickboxing. When I got pregnant with my son over 3 years later, I had a pretty easy pregnancy, labor, and delivery due in large part, I believe, to the shape I was in from kickboxing. Unfortunately, after I had my son, I dropped out of kickboxing for several years because of my schedule. One morning, I was playing with my son on the floor and realized that I could not get up without bracing my hands on my knees. My flexibility was nearly non-existent and I was the heaviest I had ever been in my life. I knew what I had to do. I started back to fitness kickboxing in October 2006, went back to Muay Thai kickboxing in September 2008, and have lost over 60 pounds. I truly believe that kickboxing is the best all over exercise available today. Not only does it improve your core strength drastically, it puts some nice definition in your arms, increases your cardio endurance, and if push comes to shove, you could defend yourself.
Friday nights we work specifically on technique, movement, and breathing, and in addition to the heavy bags, you can also work with Thai pads and focus mitts. Same intense workout but with a Muay Thai focus.
"Fitness Kickboxing - Fridays- 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm"
Tima Haun (BJJ Instructor)
Steve Morand (BJJ Instructor)
Steve started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Chattanooga, TN where he received his Blue Belt from Mickey Swafford (Pedro Sauer Black Belt). Steve then moved to Florida where he trained with Harlan Taylor (Royce Gracie Black Belt). Steve then moved to Raleigh, NC where he began training at RIMA where he had the privilege to train with Carlos Machado.
Steve has been training for 4 years and is a Purple Belt under Carlos Machado. Steve has a strong emphasis on a safe training environment, technique, and self defense. Steve has trained with Ryron Gracie, Royce Gracie, Rodrigo Gracie, Pedro Sauer and Carlos Machado.
"Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schedule - Mon-Thur 7:30pm-9:00pm. Come train with Steve every Wednesday"